Making sense of a busy, brilliant brain
Dyslexia and ADHD overlap in adults
Dyslexia and ADHD can overlap in ways that make everyday life confusing. You may be creative and quick-thinking, then lose time, forget the obvious thing or become stuck trying to make something perfect.
Start with what feels familiar
Podcast episodes about dyslexia and adhd overlap in adults.
I talk about both from lived experience. These episodes are not a diagnosis. They are a place to recognise patterns, feel less alone and find a useful next step.
Stephen’s experience, October 2026
Chaos is my happy place. Consistency is harder.
Understanding my brain doesn’t mean I’ve stopped struggling with it.
We recently spent eight days in Singapore, and I loved it. New places, different plans and little curveballs coming at us all the time. My brain had plenty to get stuck into.
Chaos is kind of my happy place. Give me something unexpected to solve and I’m in my element.
An ordinary evening at home can be harder. If I finish work without a plan, I can end up on the couch, scrolling my phone or watching television, looking for something to keep my brain interested.
Imagining something and finishing it are different things
That’s one of the ways ADHD shows up for me. Alongside it, I have this very visual mind that I associate with my dyslexia. I can picture ten different possibilities and get genuinely excited about bringing one to life.
But I can get a project to 60, 70 or 80 per cent, then lose interest. The exciting part is done. The last bit takes patience and repetition, while another idea is already waving at me from across the room.
Finding room for both interest and structure
What I’m learning is that I need both: positive things that keep me interested, and enough structure to finish what matters. Not everything that gets a result is exciting.
And honestly, that balance can be tiring.
I’m sharing this in October 2026. I’ve spent years learning about my dyslexia and ADHD, but they still catch me out. Knowing more hasn’t made me immune. It has helped me understand myself and find my way back when things go sideways.
This is my experience of living with both, not a diagnostic checklist. Everyone’s experience is different.
If keeping track of time feels familiar too, you can explore time blindness, dyslexia and ADHD. Or find another podcast episode that speaks to what you’re dealing with today.
Keep exploring
Related reading from lived experience.
Simple, honest articles that give you more context without the jargon.
